Friday, May 22

Directed by William Lustig90 Minutes / Live Home Video / Cropped from 1.85:1 to full screen

Officer Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) is back stalking his former beat, reaping mayhem against the innocent and tracking down those who wronged him from the first picture. Now a gruff detective (Robert Davi) and a cop psychiatrist (Claudia Christian) seem the only ones who believe Cordell has risen again and are determined to provide the justice he seeks.

Worthy sequel that's missing the power of Atkins and Campbell (well, pretty much), but manages to pull through on action-fueled momentum. Lustig and Cohen keep the pace extremely brisk and if you do find yourself bored--just wait a few minutes. Davi can do this type of role in his slumber and Christian makes for a better female lead this go than Landon.

One thing bothers me though, if Cordell is merely a man framed by the force and disfigured by inmates; why would he ever slaughter the innocent and help criminals to begin with? Sure, you wouldn't have the series if he didn't, but it seems a fundamental flaw to the concept that's not hard to see. Though that's probably over analyzing the fun car chases, police headquarter rampages, full body burns, and the jaw awesome of Z'Dar.

My take - He slaughters the innocent because the trauma he suffered at the hands of those in charge of meting out real "justice" has warped him entirely against the concept... he now believes no one is innocent or worthy of sparing. Flimsy, but plausible...?

I also think this movie, in a weird way, mirrors the classic Universal monster sequel "GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN"... look at the serial killer as Ygor and Cordell as the Monster, and this film kinda takes on a different dimension, in my view, as an updated 80s version of that minor Franken-classic. Or not. Either way, I think it rocks. Great pick.